No more toilets please, this is Starehe
A sanitation crisis looms over the shortage of public toilets in Kamukunji and Starehe constituencies, where a plan to build more is opposed.
Local traders and political leaders are against the building of the toilets by NGOs and supported by the County government, saying that youth groups should be involved.
They have also warned against putting up the toilets until they are consulted to identify possible beneficiaries.
At least two County representatives have vowed to resist construction if the proceeds do not go directly to young people.
“No public toilet will be constructed here if we are not consulted. These NGOs and some County officers are coming to the sites under heavy security. There must be something they are hiding,” said the leaders led by Central Ward County Rep Julius Mwaniki.
Majengo County Rep Irungu Mwangi is also opposed to the projects in Gikomba Market because he claims the second hand clothes dealers were not consulted.
Mr Mwaniki accused some people close to the Governor’s office of seeking to reap where they did not sow, denying jobless youths a chance to make a living.
“A wealthy businessman cannot walk in here and take our toilet money. We shall bring the structures down. We have also issued warnings against these arbitrary projects,” said Mr Mwaniki.
Several trading areas in Gikomba, Muthurwa, Kariokor, Mathare and Kibera have been earmarked for extra public toilets to promote sanitation.